My husband and I just booked a cruise with Royal Caribbean - what should we expect?

Question

This is our first cruise!

Answer 1

I cruised for the first time on Royal Caribbean on the Voyager of the Seas. I have also been on Rhapsody of the Seas. Both were awesome! I have found that so far, I like Royal Caribbean the best.

One thing you want to do before your trip is prepare. Make sure you are aware of the extra charges because they can creep up on you. (Although I did find Royal Caribbean to be less than Princess) Check to see if you can bring wine on board. That way at dinner you can bring your bottle and the waiter will serve it to you. Sometimes there is a corkage fee, but many waiters won't charge this and you can give them an extra tip in the end. As far as during the day, if you like mixed drinks you can buy a bottle of Rum or Vodka and a coke card and make your own mixed drinks and have them by the pool. Of course my husband and I don't do that ALL the time, but it is a way to save a little money and make the trip more affordable. That way you can go on more cruises! hahahaha

Scope out the places you are going, and pick out the excursions you want to take. Book them early in the trip, that way you won't have to worry about doing that anymore. You can also change them if you change your mind or meet some friends you want to take a trip with. Just reserve something you know you would want to do because sometimes the popular excursions get booked up.

I did read other people tell you to expect to eat a lot. This is so true! I personally get tired of eating too much because I tend to stuff myself then feel miserable. If you are going on a cruise with a Johnny Rocket's, check that out. It is a nice change of scenery. Also, my husband and I went to the Italian restaurant where they have a surcharge, and that was GREAT! OUTSTANDING service! Also, if you do tend to get full and you don't want to eat five times a day, reserve your stomach space and make it count! They have such great food in the dining room. Don't waste your time eating at the buffets unless you really have to. Try to eat breakfast in the dining room. They have wonderful selections like eggs benedict. Yummy!

And as far as service in general, expect GREAT service! They really go out of their way to please. I think Royal Caribbean has such great service because the tips are done privately in the end. On Princess they are automatically charged daily, so there isn't as much incentive for good service as far as I can tell.

Another tip: If you have time in the morning, read the daily itinerary. They will slip it under your door. Pick out a few things that you REALLY want to do, and that way you will know what you don't want to miss. There will always be something going on and you might miss the the things you really wanted to do.

I know I probably made this sound stressful. But the main thing is to relax and have a great trip!!!

Sorry I wrote a book here, but I love to cruise. Let me know if you have any more questions!

Answer 2

You should expect to have a fantastic time. I only cruise on Celebrity Cruises but have known people who do Royal Caribbean. They are quite nice from what I hear.

Paying extra for Ben & Jerry's ice cream or hamburgers and fries from Johnny Rocket is ridiculous. Their stuff is good but the other food is included in your price.

Be socialble with the table mates you dine with each evening. Friendships can happen from this and also makes your trip more enjoyable.

Take a tour of some of the ports but read about them before you cruise so you know something about where you are going.

Dress appropriately for the dining room.

Answer 3

Depends where you're going. You'll either love or hate cruising. I LOVE it. It is sooo fun. You can do nothing, or everything. You can order 2 or 3 entrees if you want to try everything. The only sucky thing is that drinks are not included. I'm actually going on a cruise next week. I'm going to try to sneak alcohol, but not sure what it will be like since all this high-alert stuff. Anyway, you should have fun. The comedy show are fun too.

Answer 4

Never been on one, yet, but I hear you can expect to gain 5-10 lbs.!!haha

Our local newspaper had an article in the paper today. It says you picked the correct cruise for a couple. It gives a list of suggestions:
1. security restrictions are strictly enforced. Pack liquids and gels in your checked baggage and allow extra time to get through airport security.

2. Consider flying in the day before. It's cheaper than missing the boat. Also consider trip insurance.

3. Find out about shipping costs. You can't bring liquor on the plane home. You probably wouldn't get home with it if you put it in checked baggage.

4. If going through a British port there is practically no carry-on luggage. IF in doubt leave it at home.

5. Regulations are expected to change soon. Many things you used to take may not be allowed now (camera equipment, iPod, DVD player) in carry on. You don't want to send these through checked baggage.


For current information on U.S. restrictions, go to travel.state.gov and www.tsa.gov.

Have fun!

Answer 5

You will LOVE it. I absolutely loved my first cruise. I am so addicted now and do nothing but search for the next cruise that I am going to take! You will eat a lot and they take wonderful care of you. You will go home very spoiled. Enjoy every bit of it. I am so jealous!

Answer 6

You should have booked it with a travel agent that handles cruises and they could answer all your questions. Hopefully, you didn't book it online, as you don't get any service.....and.....the price is the same. If it isn't, and its cheaper online, then you are getting something less than you would if you booked it thru a travel agent.

Answer 7

you will have a wonderful time. unless you're going to alaska, take shorts with you. it may be getting cool wherever you live, but it will be warm in the bahamas and in the caribbean. be prepared to eat every 20 minutes. there is food everywhere. and be sure to go to the captain's gala (it's the same night as formal night). be prepared to be pampered. have a massage. just enjoy yourself. i'm going in october. hope you have a good time.

Answer 8

check out cruisecritic.com and/or tripadvisor.com. search for you itinerary and get reviews from people like you that have been there. you'll get the real deal, not what the cruise line wants you to hear. Have fun!! Lose your inhabitions. You'll be pleasently surprised!!

Answer 9

We have been on many cruises; you will enjoy it.


First of all the terms "cabin" and "stateroom" mean the same thing; the cruise industry prefers stateroom. The standard cabin that most people get (inside/outside/balcony) are generally between 175 and 200 Square feet, about the size of a 9 by 12 ft home bedroom (balconies are about 45 to 55 sq ft). Suites and penthouses can be between 350 and 1300 square feet. Each cabin has a two beds which can be made into a queen, a bathroom with a shower stall, a closet and some drawer space, a TV and telephone, a safe for valuables, and a life jacket for each passenger. Some cabins that are built to accommodate 3 or 4 people will have a pull down bed and/or a sofa bed. Its been my experience that Princess and Royal Caribbean have the best ship and cabin decor (also some of the best food.)

WHAT’S A CRUISE LIKE

Cruises are one of THE best vacations you can take. Once you are on ship the staff caters to you, its whatever you want. There is something to do all day every day. When you arrive at the port to check in you (each passenger) will receive a key card which will serve as your room key, charge card for anything you buy on ship (i.e.,drinks, souvenir) and its also your pass to get on and off ship in each port. When you first board the ship the security personnel will have you insert your key card into a scanner and then will take a photo of you that is included in the magnetic strip on the card. Each time you get off ship you will need this key card and many times also a photo ID (passport or driver's license). This card allows them to keep an accurate track of all passengers entering and/or leaving the ship. Infants and small children may be required to wear an ID bracelet (like in the hospital) in lieu of carry a card.

Each day of your cruise you will receive in your cabin a "newsletter" listing the time, place and particulars of everything happening for you on ship. There are generally activities like demonstrations of ice carvings, napkin folding and towel folding, and cooking demonstrations. Some ships may offer a galley (kitchen) tour or a tour of the bridge. There may be organized games and other activities around the pools. In the evenings there are generally shows, one show for those with an early dinner seating and another (same show) for those who eat late. There is always food available. Usually there is a place in ship where you can go get something. Or, you can always just pick up the phone in your cabin and order from the room service menu (food is free). If you want, you can order breakfast room service.

All ships have a casino with slots and table games. Ships have movie theaters, generally small but nice, and you can also see movies in your room. They have ATM’s and a purser’s desk where you can cash a check or exchange currency if you need to. There is a tour and activities desk so you can schedule land tours and activities.

Ships have free morning exercise programs, stretching and walking, etc, and on some you can pay for other things like Spinning. All cruise ships have gyms so you can go workout, usually any time from 6:00 AM to late at night. There is usually a walking/running track on one of the decks also. Some ships leave the gym open all night. They call the gyms Spa because they do promote getting pampered with things like wraps and massages with aroma therapy. They will also generally have a beauty salon to do hair and nails.

There are always pools. Some ships have more than one and the newer ships generally have an indoor pool as well as outdoor ones and all of these have hot tubs. There is generally a basketball court on the top deck, a place for scuffle board, and a mini-golf course. The newer Royal Caribbean ships have a rock climbing wall and the newest one has a pool for water surfing.

There are places on ships to play cards and board games, and the cards and games are provided. If you want to just sit and read, there’s a library where you can bring your books or select one from the shelf. Ships have internet cafes and some offer WIFI if you bring your prefer to use your computer in your cabin (some ships offer notebooks for rent). There are cocktail lounges that feature a variety of music. Some have a piano bar with jazz. There is usually a disco that starts after 10:00 PM each night and last until everyone leave. On certain days ships will have special activities like a chocolate lovers buffet, or a midnight deck party .

I suggest that you go to the web site for the cruise lines and look at the cabin prices, port stops, the features for the ships and select a cruise that will do what you want to do. Then you may want to talk to an agent and see if they can find what you want. Finally, decide whether you want to book your self or have an agent do it for you.

WILL YOU GET SEA SICK ??

Some people worry about getting sea sick, but the ships being used these days have automated stabilizers which minimize the rocking. The larger ships cut through the water so easy that you don’t even feel like you are moving. When there is bad weather the cruise lines will steer around and away from it, sometimes changing the order of port stops. Also, the ships generally move overnight and dock in the mornings so you don’t feel much movement. Consequently, your chances of getting sea sick are minimal. There is generally less motion than on an airplane. If you do get sick, all ships have a doctor and they will dispense sea sick medicines. If you are prone to motion sickness, just get pills or a patch from your own doctor before you go, or go to a boating store and get a sea sickness bracelet.

OTHER CRUISE TIPS

The shorter cruises are 4 or 5 days, and the normal ones are either 7 to 14 days or more. If you are not sure whether you will like cruising, go on a short one first.

To save some money, consider driving to the port; Miami, Ft Lauderdale, N.O., Houston, LA, NJ. Most ports have plentiful and safe parking (I have driven many times to Miami and Ft Lauderdale) at both places that costs about $12 a day. Driving can save money over the cruise line "add-in" for airfare. We generally drive most of the way on one day from NC and stop about an hour or two from the port for the night. Then we continue the short trip the next day to the port. Most ships start boarding between noon and 1:00 PM. If you are a cruise club member you generally get to go on first, or early.

Join the cruise club so that the cruise line will send you their specials and so that you can get discounts on future cruises with them. The discount will typically be $50 to $100 per person. If you will be celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary, or birthday during the cruise, be sure to tell them, they will do special stuff for that.

Most 7-day cruises have two formal nights when you can wear your best stuff and get pictures taken, and maybe meet the ship’s Captain. Cruise lines charge a lot for the photos they take so take your own photos around the ship when you get the chance, especially on the formal nights. Ask other passengers to take photos for you, they generally are very willing.

Review the listing of tours offered on your cruise and decide whether you want to pay for a tour or go on your own. On most Caribbean islands you can get a taxi or tour in port for much less than the cruise ship tours. HOWEVER, the one big advantage of going on ship sponsored tours is THE SHIP WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU if your ship sponsored tour is late getting back to the ship. If you will be in a port for 12 to 16 hours you are probably safe to go on your own for most anything. But if you are only there for six to eight hours you may want to stay close to the ship or go on the ship tours.


The hidden costs on a cruise are your tab after the cruise for drinks (alcoholic and sodas), tours, and gratuities. Many ships now add the recommended gratuity to your onboard tab. The gratuity is about $10 to $12 per day per person. You can give more if you want. Tours can add hundreds to your final bill, depending upon how many stop the ship makes and what you want to do. Study the tours carefully; some places you may want to just go on your own.

Answer 10

I am sure you will love their service. Daily activities are just endless. Be sure to plan you day ahead, exercise, don't eat like a pig.